Consumers play a crucial role in nutrient recycling in ecosystems. By studying the elemental composition of grazers and algae, researchers have found that nutrient release rates are influenced by their composition. This feedback loop between grazers and algae affects nutrient cycling dynamics. Experimental data supports the idea that nutrient release ratios are linked to the N:P ratios of algae and grazers, and that P release rates by grazers are related to their food composition. This stoichiometric approach can change our understanding of how trophic dynamics and nutrient cycling interact in ecosystems.